Register for gas-meters.



No. 744,332. PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

" J. 0. GOODALE, JR.

REGISTER FOR GAS METERS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR; 24, 1902.

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PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

J. 0. GOODALE, JR. REGISTER FOR GAS METERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1902.

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Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CRANDALL GOODALE, JR, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

REGISTER FOR GAS-METERS.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,332, dated November 1'7, 1903.

Application filed April 24, 1902. Serial No. 104454. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CRANDALL Goon ALE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registers for GasMeters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in register mechanism for gas-meters and similar purposes.

In the construction of gas-meters it has been found difficult to provide a satisfactory and effective straight-reading meter. The register mechanism for a gas-meter must be very simple and comparatively inexpensive, else, owing to the necessary limitations on the cost of the meter, it cannot be employed. The means as now principally used have broad dials with hands, the first dial indicating hundreds, the second dial thousands, the third dial tens of thousands, &c. It is not possible to construct these dials so that the hands will point with absolute accuracy, and as they move gradually very often misreadings in the meters occur, which of course causes trouble and annoyanceas, for example, on the tens-of-thousands dial if there is a misreading it amounts to a mistake of ten thousand feet of gas. It is therefore desirable, if possible, to produce such a register in which there is always positive indication of the numbers to be read.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved mechanism which will move the different dials or indicators step by step, each step corresponding to one of the divisions of the dial or scale.

A further object is to provide, in connection with such apparatus, an improved governing means to prevent over-registration.

Further objects will de finitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is fully illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings,formin g a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a gasmeter embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on a line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail front elevation view of a register mechanism embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail front elevation view of the same with the dial-plate and dials removed. Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on a line corresponding to the irregular line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the shaft F with the operatinggear thereon to show the arrangement of the same. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view taken 011 line 8,8 of Fig. 4, showing the manner of applying tension to the disk-operatin g mechanism to serve as a brake therefor. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the arrangement of the actuating-springf of the shaft N.

In the drawings all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the sectional lines, and similar letters of reference refer to the similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A represents the casing of the meter, A the operating-gear, and A the tumblingrod or connection to the registering mechanism. These parts are of the usual construction. The tumbling-rod A is connected to the shaft 0 of the registering mechanism, which carries the coggear 0, arranged to mesh with the cog-wheel D on the shaft D. On the shaft D is a cog-gear D, arranged to mesh with the cog-wheel E of the shaft E, the whole being supported in a suitable frame formed of the side pieces 13 B, united by suitable pillars.

On a shaft F, arranged below the shaft E, is a gear F, free to revolve upon the same. This wheel is provided with projecting lugs or pins f, ten in number, arranged about the same, and the wheel is driven by a cog-gear on the shaft E.

Pivotally secured to the frame B bya suit able means, as the set-screw I, is a lever I, provided with a lug I, which is adapted to engage the pins f, carried by the gear-wheel F, and as the wheel is revolved the lever I is raised until the pin passes from under the ICO lug I, which permits the lever to return to its initial position. Spring tension is applied to the lever by means of the cam M, which engages the same and which is secured to the shaft M, on which is the gear M, arranged to mesh with the gear N on the shaft N. On the shaft N is a coiled spring I), which puts tension upon the same and, through the 0011- nections described, upon the lever I. This arrangement is preferred, as it relieves the jerking action of the spring. To further assist in accomplishing this purpose, a balance a, carried by the arm a, secured to the shaft N, is provided.

On the forward end of the lever I is a pawl .I, adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel F, which is secured to the shaft F, and as the lever is raised the dog engages the ratchetwheel F and when the lever is released advances the same one step, the notches in the periphery of the wheel F being ten in number. A springpawl his provided to prevent backward motion of the ratchet-wheel F.

A number-wheel train consisting of the gear G, K, and L 011 the shafts F, K, and L, respectively, is provided, suitable cams, as g K", being provided to give the same a stepby-step movement. Spring-washersi are between the several gears G K L and the frame B to serve as a brake or to put friction upon the same, so that while they may be revolved freely there is suliicient resistance or friction to prevent their being thrown more than one step.

A suitable plate P is provided, and outside of this, secured to and revolving with the shafts F, K, and L, are dials 6. These are suitably marked to represent hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands. An index 0 is carried by the shaft 0 to indicate feet. It is customary to add the necessary ciphers on the face of the casing a, (see Figs. 1 and 0,) which is provided with apertures, so that but one figure of each dial is visible at a time,

and it is therefore impossible to misread the meter, the reading of the same being what is termed as straight. For example, ameter as shown in Fig. 1 would read twelve thou sand three hundred feet.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved registering mechanism for gas-meters will clearly appear. The operation of the meter proper, with its connection to the shaft 0, revolves the same, and it, through the gear connections 0, D, D, E, and E, drives the wheel F. The rotation of this wheel raises the lever I, and as the same is released the ratchet-wheel F is advanced one step. This, being secured to the shaft F,

operates the nu mber-wheeltrain, as described.

I have illustrated the manner of applying spring tension to operate the index mechanism in the form preferred by me on account of its steadiness or freedom from jerking motion. I am aware, however, that there are numerous ways of applying this tension, as by securing a weight to the lever I or apply ing spring-pressure thereto direct. Such a structure would, however, be open to the objections which the arrangement shown and described herein overcomes unless some means were provided to overcome the same.

I have illustrated and described my improved registering mechanism in the form preferred by me on account of its simplicity in construction and durability in use. I am aware, however, that it is capable of considerable variation without departing from my invention, such variations being readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains and which will not be pointed out herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a register mechanism for gas-meters, the combination of a suitable frame; a wheel F having projecting pins f thereon, with suitable connections to the meter mechanism; a lever I arranged to engage the pins f on the wheel F successively as the wheel revolves; shafts M and N having connecting-gear M N thereon; a cam M on the said shaft M engaging the said lever; a spring 7) to put tension on the said shaft N; a balance a thereon; a ratchet-wheel F; a pawl .I' carried by the said lever adapted to engage the said ratchet-wheel whereby the same is revolved with a step-bystep movement; and a train of number-wheels provided with suitable dials, having a stepby-step movement, driven by said ratchctwheel, as specified.

2. In a register mechanism for gas-n'leters, the combination of a suitable frame; a wheel F having projecting pins fthereon, with suitable connections to the meter mechanism; a lever I arranged to engage the pins 1" on the said wheel F successively as the wheel 1-c volves; shafts M and N having connectinggear M N thereon; a cam M on the said shaft M engaging the said lever; a spring I) to put tension on the said shaft N; a ratchet-wheel F; a pawl .I carried by the said lever adapted to engage the said ratchet-wheel whereby the same is revolved with a step-by-step movement and a train of number-wheels provided with suitable dials, having a step-by-step movement driven by said ratchet-wheel, as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CRANDALL GOODALE, .Ilt. lVitnesses:

ETHEL A. TELLER, Orrs A. EARL. 

